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[Bluenotes]

I am interested in a diamond ring at ebay. According to the listing, the center stone is a leo diamond, pricess cut, over 1 carat, I color VVS2 clarity.
But the seller doesn''t have either IGI certificate or Gemex report, he only gave me the laserscribed Leo#, and he said he can meet me in person at any jeweler around my residence.
I looked up at Leo''s website, and this # is real.
My questions here are:
1/ Does a diamond with a Leo laserscribed# mean it is a leo diamond? is it possible fake?
2/ What are the critical points I should ask them to verify for me?
3/ Can I trust the jeweler if they say this stone is authentic?
4/ Anything I should pay attention during the transaction?

I understand that dealing with a reputable jeweler will be much safer, but I don''t have too many choices with my limited budget. Thanks a lot.

 

[denverappraiser]

What you’re asking for are classic independent appraisal services. How to choose one is a bit dicey as all appraisers are not the same and not all clients want the same services. There are some capable appraisers out there working out of jewelry stores (or even who own jewelry stores) but there are quite a few hacks as well. The conflict of interest in what you’re doing is considerable. Beyond the conflict issue, I dare say that most jewelers aren’t very good at it. Ask them for their qualifications to do appraisal work. A GG from GIA and appraisal training from somewhere (GIA does not teach appraising) are the basic prerequisites. NAJA, ASA, ISA and AGS all have training programs and affiliation with one or several of these organizations is a good sign. If you don’t recognize their credentials, ask about them and then look them up with the issuing organization. Most have online lookup systems for their members and titleholders.

There’s a list of independent appraisers at the top of the page under the ‘resources’ tab.

Neil Beaty
GG(GIA) ICGA(AGS) NAJA
Professional Appraisals in Denver

 

[Regular Guy]

Date: 4/1/2010 11:17:35 AM
Author:Bluenotes

and he said he can meet me in person at any jeweler around my residence.

I agree with Neil; what you''re planning to do would be a lot more reasonable in the presence of an independent appraiser...with your anticipating a fee to that person of anywhere from $75 - $350, depending on locale and their rate structure. If the diamond seems promising, I''d take that hit, at least at a second meeting, if not a first.

Or...meet briefly at a jeweler, as you planned (better maybe you just look at it yourself outside the office of an appraiser, before deciding to enter their office for the provisional appointment you would need to make in advance), and..in the same first meeting, decide to advance or not to the appraiser.

That could make sense, I think...

 

[denverappraiser]

Date: 4/1/2010 12:48:31 PM
Author: Regular Guy
Or...meet briefly at a jeweler, as you planned (better maybe you just look at it yourself outside the office of an appraiser, before deciding to enter their office for the provisional appointment you would need to make in advance), and..in the same first meeting, decide to advance or not to the appraiser.
That could make sense, I think...

I’m not entirely on board with this. Although I understand that the objective is to avoid an appraisal fee in situations where the deal isn’t reasonably likely to happen anyway, there can be considerable personal risk for both the seller and the buyer to be meeting strangers on the street to discuss what is likely to be a fairly high dollar cash deal. If you don’t think the odds of success are sufficiently high to even justify a professional appraisal, don’t do the deal.

Meeting in a jewelers store to do a 3rd party deal using their security and facilities without the specific cooperation of the jeweler is entirely unfair to the jeweler and can (should) get you booted out by their security people.

Most IA's I think are closer to the low end of Ira's budget than the top for this kind of service. I certainly am.

Neil Beaty
GG(GIA) ICGA(AGS) NAJA
Professional Appraisals in Denver

 

[Gypsy]

I agree with Neil. I've worked both with him and with Nancy Stacy and it cost me no where near 300 per piece. Much closer to the lower end, and I wanted (from Neil) the sun moon and stars, and an in depth insurance appraisal (from Nancy).

If it's not worth getting the diamond appraised to you... not worth buying .